Reviews

“Best Bet!” — Tribune-Metromix

From the Travel Channel’s list of the nine Best Magic Shows in America: “Magic made a comeback in 2007 with The Magic Cabaret, a no-frills magic show that blurs the line between illusion and reality.”

From Chicago Lawyer Magazine’s Opening Statement: “You have a special treat awaiting you every Wednesday at the Greenhouse Theater Center. There, two prestidigitators par excellence entertain you with 75 minutes of uninterrupted (except for laughter and applause) ‘magic, mystery and mischief’ in an intimate setting. Since 2007, this very clever pair has kept audiences scratching their heads in wonder by weaving their confounding illusions with tales of Chicago history. Don’t miss it.”

From the Chicago Tribune’s Arts & Entertainment section: “[Parr & Diamond] are lively and agile, appealing and enthusiastic. The show’s a blast.”

From CBS Chicago’s list of the six Best Spots for Cabaret Entertainment: “This mystical concoction is presented by two amazing entertainers who have lifelong connections to magic.”

From the Examiner.com Performing Arts Review: “Magicians extraordinaire David Parr and Joe Diamond present their craft with utmost passion, leaving each audience member on the edge of one’s seat, in awe. Magic is perhaps the most fantastical of escapes, and this show, presented in true theatrical form, is just the treat we need.”

From the Windy City Times theater section: “These magicians answer their call with a humility that renders us perfectly willing to be bamboozled by their chicanery, eagerly assisting them in our deception. Parr and Diamond even go so far as to return the favor, instructing us in a step-by-step drill with our very own cards, so that each one of us can share in the wonder of our own extraordinary powers.”

From the Groupon Guide to Chicago: “[This] weekly show is a collage of narration, humor, and confounding illusions. And the closer you look, the more rewarding the show.”

From the Chicago Reader’s Short List of Highly Recommended Shows: “There’s no Vegas-style razzmatazz in this charming weekly performance of parlor magic. They’re enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the history of magic Chicago style (they include shout-outs to Matt Schulien), and they perform astounding feats of prestidigitation. Low on hokum and high on thoughtfulness, this is an evening that shows magic to its best advantage, up close and personal.”

From the Chicago Sun-Times “Our Town” section: “Chicago’s renowned Magic Cabaret grew out of a desire to perform smart magic in an intimate setting. They have more than met their goal.”

From Centerstage Chicago’s list of Must-See Theater: “No glitz, just wonder. The Magic Cabaret draws on a century-old tradition of ‘parlor magic,’ an intimate style of prestidigitation that keeps the audience directly involved. Instead of watching tigers become showgirls across a massive auditorium, the lucky viewers at this show will watch the simply impossible happen in front of their noses.”